Steven Spielberg’sWest Side Storyis a part of an elite group of projects that have earned numerous nominations at the upcoming Oscars ceremony, including the coveted Best Picture nomination. Despite its inclusion in several categories, leading star Rachel Zegler won’t be in attendance to relish in the film’s success because she hasn’t received an invitation to attend.
Twenty-year-old breakout star Zegler burst onto the scene with her memorable performance as Maria in Spielberg’sWest Side Story, which generated $74.5 million worldwide. Zegler has been lauded for her impeccable command of the role, winning the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. The young star has earned several nominations, but unfortunately fell short of inclusion in theOscars Best Actress category. Nevertheless, the film has earned seven Academy Award nominations and looks to do well at the ceremony. Unfortunately, Zegler indicated that she wouldn’t be attending, even after several attempts to obtain an invitation.
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On Sunday, Zegler posted several images on her personal Instagram account, reflecting on some enjoyable experiences throughout the year. In the comments section, a user expressed excitement around Zegler’s possible attire for Oscar night, which prompted the young star to relay the unfortunate news. “Idk y’all i have tried it all but it doesn’t seem to be happening :') I will root for west side story from my couch and be proud of the work we so tirelessly did 3 years ago,” stated Zegler. “I hope some last minute miracle occurs and I can celebrate our film in person but hey, that’s how it goes sometimes, I guess.”
Each nominee and presenter receives a pair of tickets to the upcoming awards ceremony, while additional tickets are given to the studios to distribute as they see fit. It’s unclear why Zegler failed to obtain an invitation, especially since she is the leading face on every promotional piece ofWest Side Story. The young actress is one of the more talked about elements, alongsideBest Supporting Actress nominee Ariana DeBose, making her exclusion very noticeable. While disheartening, the news has not rattled the young breakout star, who looks forward to supporting her beloved peers from afar. “Thanks for all the shock and outrage - I’m disappointed too. But That’s okay. So proud of our movie,” expressed Zegler.
Zegler’s exclusion is yet another knock against the ceremony, which has faced its fair share of backlash over the past few months. Audiences erupted whenSpider-Man: No Way Homefailed to earn a spot in the Best Picture category, even though the project has shattered records, reaching $1.8 billion worldwide, the most since 2015’sJurassic World. After the Academy announced that several categories would not be presented on-air, the ceremony faced more backlash. Eight categories, including Best Original Score, will be awarded during off-air parts of the ceremony. The confirmed decision was an attempt to increase viewership since last year’sOscars ceremony had an historic low viewership. Unfortunately, the Academy can’t seem to get out of its way, and the exclusion of Zegler is yet another piece that has many unsatisfied.
Despite not earning an invitation to the awards ceremony, Zegler appreciates the support she has received since shedding light on the situation. While disappointing, the young star’s performance has opened other notable doors, which in its way beats an invitation to the Academy Awards. The young star’s performance inWest Side Storywas the motivating factor behindher casting asSnow Whitein the upcoming Disney live-action film. News of Zegler’s exclusions may prompt the Academy to send an invitation her way, but the breakout star seems content with staying home.
